Thursday March 15, 2018

Mediaweek TV

Special guest on the interview segment this week with Sky News anchor Natalie MacDonald and Mediaweek’s James Manning is NewsMediaWorks CEO Peter Miller.

Peter Miller

Miller was appointed CEO of NewsMediaWorks in June 2017. He was previously Executive Director – Global Market Strategy at advertising technology solutions company Adstream.

Mediaweek spoke with Miller a few weeks after he started the role in this interview.

Fox Sports announces second year of Watch AFL global pass for footy fans

• International streaming service will deliver live and on-demand coverage of every AFL game plus Fox Footy entertainment and analysis programming • Free trial for people who sign up before March 31 2018

Following last year’s successful launch, the groundbreaking international streaming service Watch AFL returns to deliver live and on-demand coverage of every game in the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season to footy fans living or travelling outside Australia.

Watch AFL will also deliver all the finals action including the showcase event, the 2018 Grand Final, live and on demand.

Subscribers will also have access to Fox Footy’s lineup of award-winning shows keeping them entertained and informed across the week.

Fan favourites including AFL 360, Bounce, Open Mike and the new-look On the Couch will return, plus a host of new shows will deliver the biggest and most exciting lineup ever.

Fox Sports COO Peter Campbell said: “We know how passionate AFL fans are. They live and breathe it. With Watch AFL it doesn’t matter if you are living overseas or travelling for business or holiday – you won’t miss any of the action with live coverage of every game right through to and including the big dance, the 2018 Grand Final.

“Fans loved what they received last year from Fox Sports’ first international streaming service and, with new faces including Garry Lyon, Nick Riewoldt and Bob Murphy, more shows across the week and enhanced product features, this year will be even better.”

Fans can choose to watch the way they want, either from the dedicated website watchafl.com.au or via the Watch AFL mobile and tablet apps for iOS and Android with Airplay or Chromecast enabled.

New features this year include a soon-to-be-released dedicated Apple TV app, and a new iOS and Android app feature allowing fans to download matches and shows to watch offline.

Fans can now trial the Watch AFL service with a free two-week offer available until March 31 2018.

Australia’s news media sector continues to hold on to the growth it achieved during 2017, with 16.5 million or 90% of the population (aged 14+) reading news media across all platforms, according to the latest emma™ (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) data for January 2018.

In 2017, news media grew by 2% for the second consecutive year, and that audience has held into January 2018.

Print audiences for news media remained stable at 12.5 million, or 68% of the population in January, as publishers report pockets of growth in newspapers.

More than seven in 10 Australians (74%), or 13.5 million people, consumed news media on digital devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.

National news media was read by 2.5 million, or 14%, of the population in January.

Metro newspapers were read by 10.3 million people, or 56% of consumers, over the same period.

More than one-third of the population (35% or 6.4 million people) read regional and community news media brands. A total of 3 million people (or 16% aged 14+) read regional newspapers, while community newspapers were read by 3.5 million (or 19% aged 14+).

The emma data also found that news media reaches 97% of women who are the main income earners in their families. Women now represent more than one in three (37.7%) of main income earners, up from 36.5% two years ago. One in five (22.2%) of female main income earners have salaries of $80,000 a year or more, which is up from 18.6% over the same period.

“It’s been a positive start to 2018 for news media, which is holding the audience gains of some half a million people it achieved in 2017. Trust is playing a critical role in how Australians consume media, and news media provides both readers and advertisers with the highest levels of trust of any media,” NewsMediaWorks CEO Peter Miller said.

“News media continues to attract large and engaged audiences and, while social media can argue it also has large audiences, it simply cannot compete when it comes to quality, credible journalism and brand-safe content. Readers and advertisers have wised up to this dichotomy and are turning back to trusted news sources.

“It’s also interesting to note that high income-earning women are key readers of news media and that is growing along with the trend of women becoming the main earners in their household,” Miller said.

The Sydney Morning Herald is Australia’s highest-reaching title across all platforms with 5.1 million readers. The Herald Sun followed, reaching 4.2 million readers, and The Daily Telegraph on 4.1 million.

Screen Australia invests in new drama productions and a comedy for Seven, TEN, SBS and Foxtel

Screen Australia has announced a slate of production-funding investments including directorial debuts from actors Rachel Griffiths and Guy Pearce, as well as new TV series for SBS, Foxtel, Channel Seven and one for Network Ten led by The Project co-host Peter Helliar.

In total $7.4 million in funding has been allocated through the feature film, television and online production programs.

The funded television projects are:

Princess Pictures’ and Pablo Pictures’ eight-part comedy drama How To StayMarried for Network Ten stars Logie award-winning actress Lisa McCune and comedian Peter Helliar, who has also co-written the script. It tells the story of Greg (Helliar) and Em (McCune) whose 13-year marriage is put to the test by a new job, an unexpected house guest, a redundancy and an experimental sex move. It is produced by Jess Leslie, executive produced by Andrea Denholm and Emma Fitzsimons, and directed by Natalie Bailey from a script by Helliar and Nick Musgrove. This series has also been financed by Film Victoria.

Lingo Pictures’ mystery thriller Lambs of God for Foxtel is about three eccentric secluded nuns who live on a remote island – forgotten by time and the church – until a priest unwittingly happens upon them. The two-part drama is produced by Jason Stephens, Sarah Lambert and Elisa Argenzio; executive produced by Helen Bowden, Mark Fennessy and Carl Fennessy; directed by Jeffrey Walker, and written by Sarah Lambert. The miniseries has also been financed by Create NSW and Screen Tasmania.

Screentime’s comedy Orange is the New Brown for Channel Seven is a six-part series that will reflect contemporary Australian life using one-off sketches, original and recurring characters and TV parodies. It is produced by Jack Kain, executive produced by Johnny Lowry, directed by Hayden Guppy and written by Nazeem Hussain, Joel Slack-Smith, Sophie Braham, Richard Thorp, Penny Greenhalgh and Heidi Regan. This series has also been financed by Create NSW and is currently in production.

Lingo Pictures’ drama The Ropes for SBS, a four-part miniseries set in Sydney’s Western suburbs that follows a young Iraqi-Australian woman chasing her dream to become an elite boxing trainer. It is produced by Helen Bowden and Courtney Wise, executive produced by Jason Stephens, directed by Shannon Murphy, and written by Tamara Asmar, Adam Todd and Ian Meadows – with additional funding from Create NSW.

Photo: Behind the scenes on Orange is the New Brown with Broden Kelly, Nazeem Hussain and Urzila Carlson / Photo by Tony Mott

Nominees announced for 2018 APRA Music Awards: Industry acknowledges rise of the super producer/songwriter

• M-Phazes and Thief lead nominations with four each

Leading the nominations this year are Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer M-Phazes, who is nominated for his songwriting collaborations with Amy Shark and Illy, and PJ Harding (aka Thief), who is nominated for APRA Song of the Year with co-writers Ivy Adara and Louis Schoorl for Fallin’ (performed by Jessica Mauboy) among other categories.

Also in the hotly contested Song of the Year category, APRA members have voted for Amy Shark for the second year in a row, this time for “Weekends”. Paul Kelly and co-writer Billy Miller are nominated for “Firewood and Candles” while Gang of Youths frontman David Le’aupepe’s song “What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?” is also a contender. Ainslie Wills and Lawrence Folvig round out the category for “Running Second”.

The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category features a stellar cast of up and coming songwriters who have individually had great success both in Australia and abroad. They are Alex Lahey, Ben Abraham, Celia Pavey (aka Vera Blue), Gretta Ray and Sarah Aarons.

It’s three times a charm for songwriters Ivy Adara and Louis Schoorl, AdamHyde and Reuben Styles (Peking Duk), Amy Shark, Kaelyn Behr (Styalz) and Sam Littlemore, who have each received three nominations for their songwriting work.

Dual nominees include works from PNAU, Bernard Fanning, TheMcClymonts, Busby Marou, Birds of Tokyo, Starley Hope and Peter Wadams, Illy, Sarah Aarons and International Work of the Year nominee, Ed Sheeran.

The nominees list also features works from songwriters as diverse as TashSultana, Cable Ties, Tkay Maidza, Dean Lewis, Jon Hume, Morgan Evans, Dune Rats, David Ryan Harris, Kasey Chambers and many others.

Three more awards, decided by the APRA Board of Publisher Directors, will be presented at the ceremony – Songwriter of the Year, Overseas Recognition Award and the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. The awards for Most Played Australian Work Overseas and Licensee of the Year will also be announced on the night.

The 2018 APRA Music Awards will be held on Tuesday April 10 at the International Convention Centre Grand Ballroom in Sydney’s Darling Harbour. The event will be hosted by Julia Zemiro with live music performances curated by Robert Conley.

TV Ratings Analysis: March 14 2018

• Final dinner party on Married dominates midweek viewing• Pool party on My Kitchen Rules just short of 1m at #2• ABC’s Mad As Hell and Hard Quiz audience grows 100,000• Where are all the drama fans who should be watching Safe Harbour?

Seven

Home and Away night three this week and a third audience within sight of 650,000.

It was pool party challenge time on My Kitchen Rules. At a Wet’n’Wild facility, group 2 was asked to fire up the barbecue and cook easy-to-eat food which “screamed summer” that would appeal to friends and families of all ages. Teams had 60 minutes to prep and cook and a further 30 minutes to cook and serve. The public and group 1 were asked to vote for their favourite. Henry and Anna were judged the best, while Georgie and Alicia will be heading to the elimination house. The episode was on 963,000 after 976,000 for Wednesday last week.

The final of the two-part Manu’s American Road Trip through Louisiana had 524,000 watching after part 1 did 478,000.

Midweek movie was 2005’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which ended at midnight with 135,000.

Nine

After two big nights over 900,000, A Current Affair’s midweek outing was on 754,000 with stories including a plug for Zara’s new online business. Tonight is promising coverage of ice-addicted grannies.

The final dates were Tuesday night on Married At First Sight, then the (almost) final dinner party last night. The show kept a firm grip on top spot with 1.18m after 1.26m a week ago. The final week of survey before Easter starts Sunday and the first of the couples will decide if they want to continue the relationship after the cameras disappear.

20 To One then did 500,000 looking at the top 10 global mega crazes.

TEN

Dylan Alcott, Hugh Riminton on Stephen Hawking, Tommy Little with old folk and Steve Price on his stage debut were amongst the editorial mix on TheProject. The fourth of six episodes this week started on 280,000 and grew to 455,000 after 7pm.

Graham Norton got a rare primetime midweek screening with an episode from January featuring Tom Cruise, which did 277,000.

TEN is now into the double-episode drama business too as it presented a double helping of This Is Us. Episode five from season two did 197,000 while the audience dipped to 156,000 for episode six.

ABC

Specialist subjects on Hard Quiz with host Tom Gleeson included RollingStones, Mary MacKillop and Sachin Tendulkar. The program added 100,000 week-on-week to 630,000.

Mad As Hell started with Shaun Micallef on the diplomatic breakthrough that could see a meeting of the leaders of the USA and North Korea. “Where else would you have two crazed lunatics exchange their insane views than on Sky News?” Mad As Hell was also up by 100,000 – were that many of the ABC audience previously watching I’m A Celebrity?

Squinters was up to the sixth and final episode with 367,000 watching.

Famous people past and present featured on Insert Name Here in an episode from January last year hosted by Sue Perkins with 184,000 watching.

The midweek primary channel screening of Tonightly with Tom Ballard started with a lengthy segment featuring two blokes talking about dick pics. Later in the episode it got a bit classier with Lauv performing. The numbers were 89,000 on the primary channel, with 49,000 watching an hour earlier on ABC Comedy.

SBS

Great Continental Railway Journeys saw Michael Portillo travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki. It was a great episode when it first screened and it holds up fantastically well on repeated viewings. Portillo should again be the most popular SBS presenter of the week with 281,000 last night.

Episode two of Safe Harbour was even more compelling than the first, and yes, it does deserve a much bigger audience. Shame on you drama fans. Hopefully many more will sample it on SBS On Demand. The FTA audience was 146,000 after it launched with 162,000.

Week 11 TV: Wednesday

WEDNESDAY METRO

ABC

Seven

Nine

Ten

SBS

ABC

12.1%

7

21.2%

9

24.9%

TEN

8.0%

SBS One

4.8%

ABC 2

2.5%

7TWO

4.0%

GO!

2.8%

ONE

2.5%

VICELAND

1.3%

ABC ME

0.7%

7mate

3.2%

GEM

2.2%

ELEVEN

2.3%

Food Net

0.7%

ABC News

1.7%

7flix

2.3%

9Life

2.6%

NITV

0.2%

TOTAL

17.0%

30.7%

32.6%

12.7%

7.0%

WEDNESDAY REGIONAL

ABC

Seven Affiliates

Nine Affiliates

Ten Affiliates

SBS

ABC

10.2%

7

22.9%

9

21.9%

WIN

6.9%

SBS One

3.6%

ABC 2

2.5%

7TWO

7.4%

GO!

3.6%

ONE

2.7%

VICELAND

1.1%

ABC ME

0.8%

7mate

3.5%

GEM

3.3%

ELEVEN

2.1%

Food Net

0.9%

NEWS 24

1.7%

7flix

2.7%

9Life

2.2%

NITV

0.3%

TOTAL

15.2%

36.5%

31.0%

11.7%

5.9%

WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV

FTA

STV

85.6%

14.4%

Wednesday fta

Married At First Sight Nine 1,188,000

My Kitchen Rules Seven 963,000

Seven News Seven 899,000

Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 881,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 867,000

Nine News Nine 831,000

A Current Affair Nine 754,000

ABC News ABC 718,000

Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell ABC 671,000

Home And Away Seven 641,000

Hard Quiz ABC 630,000

7.30 ABC 568,000

The Chase Australia Seven 525,000

Manu’s American Road Trip Seven 524,000

20 To One Nine 500,000

The Project 7pm Ten 455,000

Hot Seat Nine 434,000

Ten Eyewitness News First At Five Ten 407,000

Squinters ABC 367,000

The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 323,000

Demo top fives

16-39 Top 5

Married At First Sight Nine 368,000

My Kitchen Rules Seven 214,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 146,000

20 To One Nine 145,000

Home And Away Seven 131,000

18-49 Top 5

Married At First Sight Nine 585,000

My Kitchen Rules Seven 367,000

20 To One Nine 251,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 248,000

Manu’s American Road Trip Seven 221,000

25-54 Top 5

Married At First Sight Nine 635,000

My Kitchen Rules Seven 423,000

20 To One Nine 282,000

Seven News Seven 275,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 275,000

Wednesday multichannel

Talking Married 9Life 177,000

Peppa Pig-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 165,000

Go Jetters ABCKIDS/COMEDY 160,000

Hey Duggee-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000

Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 154,000

PJ Masks-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 154,000

A Touch Of Frost-PM 7TWO 152,000

Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000

The Hive-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000

Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 149,000

Noddy Toyland Detective-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000

The Simpsons-New Pm 7mate 134,000

Neighbours ELEVEN 134,000

Dot. ABCKIDS/COMEDY 130,000

Peppa Pig-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000

Pie In The Sky-PM 7TWO 127,000

The Simpsons E3-PM 7mate 122,000

Kazoops!-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 122,000

Fireman Sam-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 121,000

The Justine Clarke Show!-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 121,000

Wednesday subscription tv

Gogglebox Australia LifeStyle Channel 181,000

Selling Houses Australia LifeStyle Channel 128,000

Paul Murray Live SKY NEWS LIVE 68,000

Ugly House To Lovely House LifeStyle Channel 51,000

PML Overtime SKY NEWS LIVE 50,000

The Bolt Report SKY NEWS LIVE 42,000

Family Guy FOX8 40,000

Credlin SKY NEWS LIVE 39,000

Yes, Prime Minister FOX Classics 37,000

Blaze And The Monster Machines Nick Jr. 37,000

Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 37,000

Jeopardy! FOX Classics 36,000

Gogglebox Australia LifeStyle Channel+2 36,000

Live: League Life FOX LEAGUE 36,000

Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 35,000

Sky News People’s Forum SKY NEWS LIVE 34,000

Kid-E-Cats Nick Jr. 34,000

The Simpsons FOX8 33,000

Rusty Rivets Nick Jr. 32,000

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TVH!TS 32,000

Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV nationalSource: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM

Media News Roundup

Business Of Media

Southern Cross Austereo has announced the appointment of Jennifer Goggin as content director PodcastOne Australia.

Goggin replaces Jaime Chaux, who is leaving SCA to become head of digital at Commercial Radio Australia.

As a radio, documentary and podcast producer, Goggin’s career has spanned podcasting, online, social media and radio broadcasting. During her time as a podcast producer with the BBC, she has been responsible for all elements of podcast production from concept to publishing.

In her new role, Goggin is responsible for the execution of PodcastOne Australia’s content strategy.

Together with the head of PodcastOne Grant Tothill, Goggin will be responsible for the selection, commissioning and development of new original podcasts.

Her broad role includes managing the PodcastOne US and Australian content slate, managing the team of podcast producers, overseeing the PodcastOne digital social lead to create compelling social and digital content to deliver audience reach and engagement via digital platforms, supporting monetisation of the content and managing the relationship between PodcastOne Australia and PodcastOne US content teams.

Grant Tothill said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer to the PodcastOne team. As an experienced podcast maker and qualified journalist, she is a wonderful addition to our growing podcasting family and with her experience and qualifications she brings new thinking to our team.

“We haven’t even reached our first birthday yet and PodcastOne is growing in its popularity and reach every week driven primarily through its domestic podcasts. With over 40 original locally created podcasts, and with many more in development, the growth of the business is showing Australians are hungry for high-quality storytelling audio on demand.”

Goggin starts her new role on March 26 and she will report to Tothill.

Australian broadcasters and publishers have joined corporate bookmakers to attack the NSW government’s surprise move to tighten the rules on gambling advertising without first consulting the sectors, reports The Australian’s Sarah-Jane Tasker.

Media companies were alarmed that the bill placed direct liability on broadcasters and publishers, whereas they believed the liability should lie with the wagering provider.

News Corp & digital football business Dugout form partnership for SE Asia expansion

Digital football business Dugout and News Corp have announced a partnership that sees Dugout acquire News Corp’s mobile and online platform ballball, which delivers near-live highlights of the world’s leading football leagues and other content to the fastest-growing football markets in South-East Asia.

ballball.com was launched by News Corp in August 2013 and is now one of the leading football video platforms in South-East Asia. The platform distributes short-form highlights from European and other top football leagues to the region – generating 800 million video views during the 2017-18 football season.

The acquisition will lead to the creation of a new Dugout entity – Dugout SE Asia – which will be headquartered in Singapore and will lead the expansion of Dugout in the region.

While parent company Dugout will be the majority shareholder of Dugout SE Asia, News Corp will also have a stake in the new business. This strategic partnership will include senior News Corp executive Simon Greenberg sitting on the board of Dugout SE Asia.

The Walt Disney Company unveiled a sweeping reorganisation on Wednesday, promoting a pair of executives and preparing the entertainment conglomerate for the eventual integration of assets from 21st Century Fox, reports The NewYork Times.

Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, did not mention Disney’s pending $52.4 billion acquisition of various Fox businesses, which still must receive government approval, in Wednesday’s announcement. Instead, he described the new structure as “strategically positioning our businesses for the future”.

Kevin Mayer, who has recently served as chief strategy officer, working on the purchases of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and BamTech, a streaming-focused company, was named chairman of a new Disney division: Direct-to-Consumer and International. The unit will be made up of Disney’s overseas media businesses; global advertising sales for ESPN, ABC and other channels; syndicated television sales; and – most importantly – a portfolio of subscription streaming services.

To complete the Fox integration, Iger, 67, agreed to renew his contract for a fourth time, delaying retirement from July 2019 to the end of 2021. RupertMurdoch, who controls 21st Century Fox, asked Iger to stay as a condition of the deal, which was valued at US$66.1 billion including debt.

News Brands

News Regional Media has announced the beginning of a new premium digital subscription model for its Queensland readers, with the first paper – TheChronicle (Toowoomba) – launching this week.

A letter from the editor, Steve Etwell, was published on page two on Wednesday, explaining the change, along with a digital letter and an email to all subscribers last night.

The letter reveals the launch of an “Unlimited” premium subscription model, moving away from metered digital subscriptions. The change to the premium model will not be a noticeable change for subscribers, but a visible difference for non-subscribers, unable to access any story with the News Corp rainbow-coloured Plus sign.

Bryce Johns, editorial director at News Regional Media, said: “Today TheChronicle is the first regional masthead to move to a premium digital subscription model and our 11 other daily regional newspapers will follow over the next few weeks.

“Serious journalism costs money, and our local journalism is critical to the ongoing prosperity of our communities across the Sunshine State.

“Subscribers will be well informed with unlimited access to the best local journalism and investigations, as well as the top writers on issues that matter around the country.

“There is also a range of other benefits including those enjoyed by other News Corp metro masthead subscriptions through news+.

“News Regional Media is committed to better serving our local communities, which is why readers would have seen a range of We’re For You advertisements about our editors’ pledge and commitment in recent weeks.

“Our team of editors and journalists will continue to champion our people and our regions, giving a voice to the issues and stories that matter to our local communities.”

Crikey founder and local politician Stephen Mayne has apologised for a “sleazy list”

Crikey founder and former Melbourne City Councillor Stephen Mayne has apologised for a sleazy list that crudely rates prominent female politicians including former emergency services minister Jane Garrett for their physical appearance and sexual attractiveness, reports News Corp’s Aneeka Simonis.

The Herald Sun reports the list can still be found online, having been republished since originally being published, then taken down by Mayne.

Mayne, who has been a fierce critic of former lord mayor Robert Doyle during the sexual harassment investigation, has himself been accused of sexist conduct over the “Bracks Babes” list he published in 2001, which rated female workers based on their physical attractiveness to men.

Mayne has apologised, stating it was “far worse” than he had remembered.

After Laura Tingle hire, report The Australian’s Greg Sheridan has Govt role

The Australian’s foreign editor Greg Sheridan has been a director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Australia-Indonesia Council, a paid position whose compensation terms are governed by the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal’s Consolidated Determination on Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part-Time Public Office, reports The AFR’s JoeAston.

ABC News has launched the Caroline Jones Scholarship, a 12-month cadet position providing financial and on-the-job development for a talented Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who aspires to be a journalist.

Caroline Jones

The scholarship is named in honour of the distinguished broadcaster and journalist Caroline Jones, who had a more than 50-year career at the ABC before retiring in 2016. Caroline was the first woman reporter on This Day Tonight and the first woman to anchor Four Corners, and was associated with Australian Story since its inception in 1996. In 1997 she was voted one of Australia’s Living Treasures.

“I’m honoured to have this Scholarship initiated in my name by ABC News,” said Jones. “So many people opened doors of possibility for me. This scholarship will offer an outstanding career opportunity each year for a young indigenous person.

“It’s a project close to my heart and I welcome the prospect of more indigenous journalists taking their place in the Australian media.”

The scholarship provides an opportunity for the successful candidate to build a career in news and current affairs. He or she will do a range of work placements within ABC News, including with the Specialist Reporting Team, ABC Investigations, the business and digital teams, Foreign Correspondent and FourCorners.

Television

It’s a big week of celebrations for Dean “Clairsy” Clairs – not only did his Mix 94.5 breakfast show knock Nova 93.7’s Nathan Morris, Nat Locke and Sean McManus from the number one Perth breakfast spot, but he celebrates 35 years in radio, reports The West Australian’s Krystal Sanders.

Clairs’s milestone was made that much sweeter after the first radio ratings for 2018 were released by GfK, which saw him and co-hosts Kymba Cahill and Matt Dyktynski beat the Nova 93.7 breakfast show, which has held on to the top position for the past six surveys.

The Mix 94.5 breakfast show rose 1.8 points to a 15.1% share of the Perth radio audience.

“It was unreal,” he said. “Erica Hodge, our content director, was shaking. I thought she was going to have a breakdown she was so excited… You could hear the management team downstairs screaming because Hit 92.9 had a great survey too.”

Clairs said they celebrated the win with a herbal tea, a far cry from the heydays of the 90s, when he recalls the day PM FM finally beat 96FM in 1992 and there was dancing on the tables.

One memory that sadly sticks in his mind is when they lost co-host ShaneMcFarlane, who died from a gastric illness in October 2015. “Kymba and I talk about him a lot,” he admitted.

Nova Entertainment partnering Victoria’s Good Friday Appeal for a third year

Nova Entertainment has partnered with Victoria’s Good Friday Appeal for a third consecutive year.

Jennifer Hansen and Mike Perso

Nova 100 and smoothfm 91.5 will officially partner with the Good Friday Appeal by providing extensive on-air, online and social support, as well as active involvement in key fundraising activities including Feaster, PJ Day, Kick For the Kids, Good Friday online raffle, Run for the Kids and Kids Day Out.

Peter Colosimo, Nova Entertainment’s Melbourne general manager, said, “Most Melbournians have had firsthand experience with the Royal Children’s Hospital at some stage during their lives. The Good Friday Appeal plays a huge role in raising funds for this important institution and we are delighted to continue our partnership to highlight and provide scale to its fundraising efforts.”

Nova 100 will support Run for the Kids in one of the station’s biggest activations this Sunday March 18. Nova 100’s Selfie Zone will allow participants to capture the moment they reach the top of the Bolte Bridge while a Nova cheer squad will motivate competitors during the run. In addition, Nova 100 will provide a recovery zone for runners with massage therapists, a DJ and a photo both activation at the finish line.

Mike Perso and Jennifer Hansen, from smoothfm 91.5’s More Music Breakfast Show, will host a Feaster Long Lunch for listeners on Friday March 23 and the breakfast show will encourage additional donations via fundraising events in the lead-up to Good Friday. smoothfm will also create a family-friendly relaxation zone at the Good Friday Appeal’s Kids Day Out with massages, a tea cup ride, kids yoga, a photo booth and meet and greet opportunities with smoothfm announcers Cameron Daddo, Mike Perso and Jennifer Hansen.

Television

After gigs with Nat Geo & Netflix, the Honey Badger confirmed as TEN’s new Bachelor

Network Ten has confirmed Nick Cummins is the new Bachelor.

Cummins had a 15-test match career with the Australian Wallabies, played a season with the Australian Sevens, earned a Commonwealth Games silver medal, and played with the Western Force and overseas in Japan.

Earning the nickname “Honey Badger” because of his strength, ferocity and toughness, Cummins was a crowd favourite.

Currently taking a break from the game, Cummins has also become a media favourite.

He was recently announced as co-host with Dannii Minogue of season three of Netflix’s Ultimate Beastmaster shot in Los Angeles (to be released mid-2018), he co-developed and starred in National Geographic Channel’s Meanwhile in Australia…, which will be launched this year, and was the face of Tourism Australia’s global youth campaign Aussie News Today.

He has written two books about his life (a third book is in the works), travels extensively and has appeared in advertising campaigns for several high-profile brands.

Network Ten executive producer of The Bachelor Australia, Hilary Innes, said: “We are delighted that Nick has agreed to be Australia’s next Bachelor. He will bring a refreshing, honest and cheeky energy to season six. On top of all his incredible achievements, he is both lovable and surprising. I know he will be a phenomenal Bachelor.”

Hosted by Osher Günsberg, The Bachelor Australia is a Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia production for Network Ten.

Foxtel confirms Nicole Kidman’s The Undoing will be coming to the showcase channel

Foxtel has confirmed it will be the home for HBO’s new limited series, TheUndoing, with the psychological thriller to air exclusively on showcase. The series will again team Nicole Kidman and writer David E. Kelley.

Mediaweek mentioned the new series yesterday.

Based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s bestselling book “You Should Have Known”, The Undoing has been adapted by Kelley and centres on Grace Sachs (Kidman), who is living the only life she ever wanted for herself. She’s a successful therapist on the brink of publishing her first book, has a devoted husband and young son who attends an elite private school in New York City.

Kelley will write and executive produce along with Kidman and Per Saari through Blossom Films and Bruna Papandrea through Made Up Stories.

Blossom Films, created by Nicole Kidman and Per Saari, executive-produced the Emmy-winning limited series Big Little Lies for HBO.

Foxtel Executive director of television, Brian Walsh, said: “We’re delighted to be the exclusive Australian broadcaster of Nicole Kidman’s next television project, which is set to be another smash hit series for both HBO and Foxtel. Nicole and David E. Kelley are an unbeatable combination, and we’re looking forward to bringing both The Undoing and the second series of Big Little Lies to showcase.”

Unfortunately for Channel Seven, Australian Spartan didn’t prove to be the hardy combatant or “blockbuster event” it had been hoping for. The physical-challenge contest, whose creation was inspired by Nine’s breakout success last year with Australian Ninja Warrior, has become the first casualty of the 2018 ratings war, reports Fairfax Media’s Debi Enker.

In 2017, Seven’s ratings lead started to look shaky. Once an unassailable powerhouse in the early stages of the ratings year, MKR faltered, its average figures dipping to their lowest in eight seasons. While Seven performed well with Wanted and Little Big Shots, it was disappointed by Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story, persisted with House Rules – the dullest of the reality-TV tentpoles, which is really saying something – and served up two of the worst shows of the year in Cannonball and Yummy Mummies. Seven’s primary channel, nudged over the line by the surprise success of The Good Doctor, ultimately recorded the slimmest of wins (0.1%) for the year.

Seven’s 2018 slate suggests a dearth of innovation. There’s more House Rules (yawn), a singing contest, a dancing contest and a biopic starring DeltaGoodrem as Olivia Newton-John that’s been gathering dust since Hoges failed to dazzle.

Marvel’s Jessica Jones is the new leader on the Digital Originals chart for Australia, as it takes the place of another popular Netflix series, StrangerThings.

Amazon nearly got to the top with The Grand Tour at #2 last week. However, in the new chart Mediaweek publishes today, The Grand Tour has slipped to #7.

Star Trek Discovery keeps top spot on the Digital original chart for New Zealand.

The Walking Dead tops the Overall TV chart in both markets for another week.

Sports Media

Cricket Australia asks interested parties to bid by Monday for up to 11 TV packages

Cricket Australia is asking the country’s biggest broadcasters, telcos and, potentially, social media giants to bid for up to 11 different broadcast packages by 5pm, Monday, reports The AFR’s John Stensholt and Max Mason.

CA wants a deal for the next six seasons, starting in October, and has told broadcasters that, potentially, only select content needs to be shown on free-to-air television, including Ashes, Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests, every women’s international game, about half of the Big Bash League, including finals, and special events such as the annual Allan Border Medal presentation.

The strategy paves the way for a potential huge bid by Foxtel, which could conceivably win the rights for some men’s Test matches, all men’s one-day and limited-over internationals, and 28 Big Bash matches, excluding the finals.

CA is said to want at least $150 million annually, or $900 million over six years for all rights, though a heated bidding contest across various packages could push the value past $1 billion. Nine Entertainment Co and Network Ten have paid about $118 million annually over the past five years.